A gang of criminals who carried out a £500,000 “cash for crash” scam across Derbyshire has been ordered to pay back more than £37,000 from their ill-gotten gains.

The group engineered 41 collisions, 10 of which were at or close to Markeaton Island in Derby, then fraudulently claimed for non-existent injuries, damage and storage costs.

The trial heard how “lone or elderly” motorists were targeted by the 12-strong gang, who would drive in convoy, looking to cause crashes.

A lead car would “swerve violently”, causing the second car to brake suddenly and the target car would crash in to the back of it.

In each case, the insurance firm of the target car would pay out for personal injuries, damage and costs for storage which the crooks would pocket, often under stolen or false names.

Earlier this year, the group were put behind bars for a total of 42 years and seven months. Now a confiscation hearing has ordered them to pay back a grand total of £37,493.96.

The prosecution came about following a joint police investigation with the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).

Jason Potter, IFB had of investigations, said: “This gang was a group of calculated individuals who were putting the lives of innocent motorists at risk for profit without a second thought.

Adam Stark and Dharminder Singh Nagra were found guilty

“The prison sentences they are currently serving already demonstrate how we are clamping down on these criminals and these confiscation orders go a step further to send a clear message that insurance fraud will not be tolerated.”

A trial, held earlier this year at Nottingham Crown Court, heard how the fraud took place between 2011 and 2013.

Sentencing the men and women, Judge John Burgess said the crime was a “sophisticated and well- organised conspiracy”.

He added that the motorists targeted had been “harmed emotionally and physically”.

What's been happening in the courts?

Adam Stark, then 27, of Trenton Drive, Long Eaton, who denied conspiracy to commit fraud, but was found guilty after a trial. He was jailed for four years and nine months. He has been ordered to pay back £2,434.59.

Liam Swinfield, then 22, of Northfield Avenue, Sawley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud – two years and seven months, has been handed “a nominal order”.

Pictured is Markeaton Island, Derby (Image: Google Maps)

Dorothy Bacon, then 28, of Cedar Avenue, Ripley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud – two years and six months, has been handed “a nominal order”.

Nicola Rae Brown, then 24, of Edinburgh Court, Swanwick, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud – one year and nine months. She has been ordered to pay back £400.

Arsalaan Hussain, then 28, of New Street, Brierley, Bradford, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, but was found guilty after a trial – four years and has been ordered to pay back £11,504.